Garth Turner has an excellent video clip of Canadian forces engaged in battle in Afghanistan. If anyone doubts the danger of this deployment, this clip will remove any such doubts.
We have much to do that is helping that fragile country to rebuild. That is ultimately the most important aspect of this effort. First things first though and tht means we obviously have to make it safe for citizens to rebuild...and that is dangerous and deadly work.
Those of us who live in Edmonton have a deeper sense of community and connection with these soldiers. They are our neigbours. Their kids go to school with our kids. We all must try to better understand what is going on there, what we are doing there as a country and how we can help the Afghan people now and in the longer term.
We citizens better take some time become more informed and stay engaged in what Canada is trying to accomplish in this initiaitve...and how we are doing towards achieving our goals. Let's be sure in the meantime that our troops know that we support them and that we value what they are doing and we are proud of them.
I'm sure no one doubts the danger of this mission - the proof is the many Canadian solider deaths.
ReplyDeleteKen, it's nice to see you writing from a non-partisan stance on Afghanistan. Of course everyone would like to see more of the rebuilding effots - roads, water, schools, etc. Security, however, comes before rebuilding.
However, while I back the current mission, I still believe that we have to start formulating what goals must be achieved before we start bringing our troops back. In other words, what is success? We have a lot to learn from the way the US mishandled the Iraq war.
In terms of supporting our troops, I hope you can use some inventive methods through your blog where Canadians can show support for our troops. I think one of the problems of staying informed is that Canadians, including myself, feel a disconnect with the troops and an invulnerability that we're not helping them in any way we can. The same goes with the Afghan people - how can I as a Canadian citizen help them?
Boy eric - what you say in the above comment goes right to my head and heart. I share your sense of disconnect with our troops and our purpose.
ReplyDeleteBut believe innately it is the right thing to do. I am a bit concerned are we as a nation doing this the best we can and in wisest way that we can. We are doing the right thing, but are we doing it the right way and are we right enough about our intentions.
Beneath all of those questions I have no doubt about the commitment of our troops and the fact that, given their orders and circumstances, they are doing the right thing. they are doing it in the best way they can and they understand, very personally, their puprposes in being there.
It is a concern worthy of our reflection and our active attention and our affirmed intentionality as a nation.
Thx for your thought provoking comment.